The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
FOXWOODS 301
2 p.m., July 22 New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Loudon, N.H. NBC Sports Network
Kurt Busch 133.591, Martin Truex Jr. 133.502, Kyle Busch 133.431, Denny Hamlin 133.361, Ryan Blaney 132.720, Brad Keselowski 132.715, Erik Jones 132.674, Alex Bowman 132.618, Daniel Suarez 132.581, Chase Elliott 132.462
Insurance, and is locked in with Toyota, the class of the manufacturers.
“I just can’t imagine there isn’t some partner out there that wouldn’t want to be partnered with this whole group,” FRR President Joe Garone said. “We’ve gotten a lot of interest just in the days since we’ve announced it.”
But Truex’s success wasn’t enough for 5-hour to keep pumping the millions of dollars needed to help fund the 78 and the car isn’t the only one on the market. Lowe’s decided to cease its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and Jimmie Johnson at the end of the season after winning seven NASCAR titles.
It’s emblematic of the overall sponsor woes when the last two series champions, like other big names, can’t even keep a long-term backer.
“A lot of things go into those decisions,” Truex said. “I don’t know a ton about their business and how it’s doing or anything like that. Obviously, you’d think that with the success we’ve had and kind of how the last two years for us have went that, it’s certain we delivered on our end of the deal.”
Rise’ Meguiar, president of sales for Living Essentials, parent company of 5-hour Energy, said this week the choice to leave the sport was a “business decision.” The company declined further comment.
5-hour was the primary sponsor for 14 races this season, Bass Pro was scheduled for 16 and Auto-Owners for six. Team owner Barney Visser had used his Furniture Row company as a sponsor in the past — Truex wears an FRR firesuit next to Johnson in his Lowe’s suit on the New Hampshire race program cover — but it would be a lastgasp